Is science fiction?
(In response to Tuesday's column by Kevin King titled "Ben Stein is a twit")
I would like to introduce a different viewpoint regarding the movie "Expelled." I would first like to comment on King's statement that "[we] live in a country where citizens take integrity seriously." I completely agree with that comment, and I feel this movie does just that with the arguments presented.
Many highly esteemed and well-educated scientists and professors were interviewed in this movie. Stephen C. Meyer is one among many.
Many scientists, like Meyer, have presented concrete evidence for Intelligent Design (which is not the same thing as Creationism). In other words, if our country really takes integrity seriously, then why are they not listening to the research that is presenting real, scientific evidence? "Expelled" was merely trying to bring this fact to light and show our country that we have freedom of speech as long as we are on one side of the wall.
I believe this movie did an excellent job at exposing the limits the science and academic community have put on our freedom of speech. When looked at for what it really is and not scrutinized for trivial issues, which King mostly focused on, "Expelled" is the best documentary released in a long time. I encourage everyone reading this to form your own opinions by gong and seeing it.
You will not regret it.
Justin Hackitt
Undergraduate
Amendment actually anti-American
(In response to Wednesday's coverage of Senate Bill 1108)
It seems that our esteemed legislative body at the state Capitol has yet again displayed their utter ignorance in the matters of basic civics. Their assertion that education should be about teaching the values of American citizenship is confusing — the goal of the department of biology, I'm sure, focuses more on matters of biology than questions like "What does being an American mean to me?" And I'm sure everyone at this university went through fifth grade social studies and had the question covered.
Here is a refreshing idea for our allegedly competent state legislative body: Instead of spending time attacking the First Amendment or belittling certain groups of American citizens, how about focusing on running a more efficient state government so that public institutions of education — like ASU — don't have to suffer budget cuts that will result in restricting support services, reducing staff and cutting funds to new programs?
Now, that's what I'd call patriotic.
Byunghun Hyun
Undergraduate
